George Abbot School is a

coeducational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

secondary school and

sixth form In the education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepare for A-l ...

with academy status in Burpham, north-east of the town centre of Guildford providing a comprehensive education, for around 2,000 young people, aged 11–18.

History

The school is named after the Guildford-native 17th-century Archbishop of Canterbury George Abbot. The two main buildings are Elmslie and Raynham, named after the two headteachers when the buildings were separate schools, Miss Elmslie for girls, and Mr Raynham for boys.

Curriculum

All students must take four GCSE subjects. In Years 7 to 9, students are required to participate in five creative/expressive subjects: dance, drama, music, textiles and art. During Year 7 students are taught one language of either French, German, or Spanish. Upon going into Year 8, some are given the chance to take an additional language out of the original three. Some carry on these languages for GCSE. All GCSE students are advised to take at least one creative/expressive subject, which at GCSE include Photography, Computer Graphics and Architectural Design, however if they do pick four academic subjects or four creative subjects, that is accepted. Other subjects include History, Leisure and Tourism, Sociology and Physical Education. Students take separate or combined science GCSEs (all involve Chemistry, Physics and Biology). Religious education is divided into roughly half of students who take a short-course and half a long-course GCSE. An option exists of taking fast track foreign languages (a year early) so pupils are able to learn another language (Spanish, German, or French) to take two language GCSEs. Fast track art is available to all students who excel in the arts.

Sixth Form

George Abbot has a Sixth Form with nearly 500 students. It offers a choice of over 40 subjects at A level and BTEC, GCSE re-take options and enrichment courses. In addition to academic study, it offers a graduation programme that allows students to develop their wider knowledge and acquire transferable skills. Facilities include a Sixth Form Centre, artificial pitch and sports fields, a Fitness Suite and a common room.

House System

Students are divided into the following 5 houses: File:Falcon GA.png, FALCON File:Gryphon GA.png, GRYPHON File:Pheonix GA.png, PHOENIX File:Martlet GA.png, MARTLET File:Wyvern GA.png, WYVERN Activities run throughout the year in all faculties and points culminate in the House Trophy.

Notable former pupils

Sport

* Alex McCarthy, Premier League goalkeeper *

Ashley Giles Ashley Fraser Giles (born 19 March 1973) is a former English first-class cricketer, who played 54 Test matches and 62 One Day Internationals for England before being forced to retire due to a recurring hip injury. Giles played the entirety of ...

MBE, cricketer *

Georgina Hermitage Georgina Hermitage, (born 28 March 1989) is a former British parasport athlete competing in T37 sprint events. In 2015, she qualified for the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, selected for the T37 100m and 200m. She took the gol ...

, paralympic sprinter * Liam Heath, canoeist and Olympic gold medallist *

Matt Jarvis Matthew Thomas Jarvis (born 22 May 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. After an unsuccessful spell as a youth-team player for Millwall, Jarvis began his professional career with Gillingham, making his ...

, professional footballer *

Rachel Cawthorn Rachel Cawthorn (born 3 November 1988) is a British sprint canoer who has competed since the late 2000s. Cawthorn, representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, is a double Olympic finalist in the Women's K1 and K4 events. Life and ...

, Olympic canoeist

Music

John Renbourn John Renbourn (8 August 1944 – 26 March 2015) was an English guitarist and songwriter. He was best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo care ...

, folk guitarist and former member of Pentangle

Film/TV

Ellie Wallwork This is a list of actors who have appeared in the long-running British science fiction television series, ''Doctor Who''. For other related lists see below. Series main cast The following tables are an overview of all the regular cast memb ...

, actress

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Secondary schools in Surrey Training schools in England Academies in Surrey Schools in Guildford